FERDINAND Study: Weight Loss for Diabetes Prevention

Would you like to participate in a 6-month weight loss and weight loss maintenance nutrition study to reduce diabetes risk?

Study title: Evaluating feijoa for diabetes prevention in a multi-ethnic New Zealand cohort

We are investigating whether daily consumption of feijoa whole fruit powder alters risk of developing type 2 diabetes through weight loss.

What's involved?

You will be required to:

  • Attend 7 study visits at the Human Nutrition Unit, in Mt Eden
  • Follow the low energy, Cambridge weight-loss diet for 8 weeks
  • Complete a 4-month weight maintenance programme
  • Consume feijoa whole fruit powder or placebo matched powder every day for 6 months

What's in it for you?

  • 2 months’ worth of meal replacements at no cost
  • 9 extensive dietary advice sessions with a Registered Dietitian
  • Free body composition scans to understand your body fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density
  • Try a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to know what meals raise your blood glucose more than others
  • Get to know how many calories your body burns when at rest using an indirect calorimetry
  • Your time will be compensated with travel vouchers

Eligibility criteria

  • Have elevated blood glucose but are not diabetic (we can check this for you)
  • Are of Māori, Pacific Island, Asian Indian, Asian Chinese or NZ European/Caucasian descent
  • Are between 18-70 years
  • Have a BMI 26-40kg/m2
  • Are happy to participate in a 6-month weight loss study
  • Are happy to consume feijoa whole fruit powder or matched placebo powder every day for 8 months
  • Are happy for us to provide blood, urine and faecal samples
  • Are happy to complete 7 visits to the Human Nutrition Unit

IMPORTANT: You cannot participate in the study if you have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 

Complete the pre-screening survey here.

Contact details

If you have any further questions please visit our FAQ page.

If you would like to learn more about this study, please contact us:

Phone: 09 630 1162

Email: FERDINAND@auckland.ac.nz

Statement of ethics approval

Approved by the Southern Health and Disability Ethics Committee on 16 March 2022.

Reference number: 2022 EXP 12032